Kerala High Court
Sidhique vs State Of Kerala on 28 May, 2024
Author: Murali Purushothaman
Bench: Murali Purushothaman
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN
TUESDAY, THE 28TH DAY OF MAY 2024 / 7TH JYAISHTA, 1946
WP(C) NO. 18811 OF 2024
PETITIONER/S:
SIDHIQUE
AGED 56 YEARS
S/O. RAHIM KUNJU, PALAPPALLIL THEKKATHIL ,
THODIYOOR NORTH P.O.,
THODIYOOR.KARUNAGAPPALLY ,KOLLAM, PIN - 690523
BY ADV PRASAD CHANDRAN
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, LAW (LEGISLATION -A)
DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT ,
SECRETARIAT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001
2 THE JOINT REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER
,KARUNGAPPALLY
TAXATION OFFICER ) SUB REGIONAL TRANSPORT
OFFICE , MINI CIVIL STATION,KARUNAGAPPALLY.
P.O., KOLLAM ., PIN - 690518
BY G.P.SMT. JASMIN.
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 28.05.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2
WPC 18811 OF 2024.
JUDGMENT
The petitioner is the registered owner and permit holder of stage Carriage bearing registration No.KL-04/R-9131 and KL-58/9945. According to the petitioner, the 2nd respondent has assessed tax in respect of the said vehicleS in accordance with Section 2(ac) and the fourth proviso to section 3(1) of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1976 based on the floor area. The petitioner contends that the 2 nd respondent ought to have assessed the tax according to the seating capacity as per the schedule provided in the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act in view of the dictum laid down by this Court in Mansoor and others v. State of Kerala and others [2018 (1) KLT 50]. The writ petition is filed for the following reliefs: 3
WPC 18811 OF 2024.
"(i)To issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, direction or order directing the 2nd respondent to assess the tax in respect of the petitioner's stage carriage KL--02/R 9131 and KL-
58/9945 based on the seating capacity in the schedule provided in the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act and not in accordance with Section 2(ac) and the fourth proviso to Section 3(1) of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Act,1976 which is declared unconstitutional;
(ii)To issue such other writs, orders or direction which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper to issue in the facts and circumstances of the case".
2. When the writ petition came up for consideration today, the learned Government Pleader, on instructions, submits that the request of the petitioner can be considered in the light of the judgment in Writ Appeal No.220/2018 and connected cases dated 12.07.2018 and Mansoor (supra). It is further submitted that, if the petitioner makes a representation to the 2nd respondent for assessing the tax in respect of his vehicles on the basis of the seating capacity provided in the schedule to the Kerala Motor 4 WPC 18811 OF 2024.
Vehicles Taxation Act, the same will be considered in the light of the said judgment.
In the light of the said submission, the writ petition is disposed of with direction that if the petitioner makes a representation to the 2nd respondent for assessing the tax in respect of his vehicles on the basis of the seating capacity provided in the Schedule to the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, the 2nd respondent shall consider the same in the light of the decision in Mansoor (supra) and the judgment in W.A. No.220 of 2018 as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of such representation.
Sd/-
MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN JUDGE al/-+ 5 WPC 18811 OF 2024.
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 18811/2024
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
REGISTRATION OF THE PETITIONER'S
VEHICLE KL-02/R 9131
Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
REGISTRATION OF THE PETITIONER'S
VEHICLE KL-58/-9945